On January 28, 2025, more than 200 participants from over 30 countries gathered online for a vibrant Roundtable Discussion on Indigenous Language Rights. The event, sponsored by the NGO Committee on Language and Languages—a substantive committee of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO)—brought together a diverse group of voices, including indigenous community leaders, language teachers, university professors, legal experts, and representatives from international organizations and NGOs.
Francis M. Hult of the Universal Esperanto Association, who also chairs the NGO Committee, chaired the session. Daniel LeBlanc, a member of the Committee’s Executive Team, represented VIVAT International.
The Roundtable featured seven primary discussants:
- Vital Bambanze (Burundi), member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
- Leslie Harper, Ojibwe Nation, Programme Director, National Native American Language Resource Center
- Hanna-Maret Outakoski, Professor, Sámi University of Applied Sciences
- Jaco du Toit, Chief, Universal Access to Information and Digital Inclusion, UNESCO
- Anton Treuer, Professor, Bemidji State University, USA
- Barbara Grudell, Senior Consultant, SIL Africa Learning & Development
- Hernan Vales (Argentina), Chief, Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Prof. Francis Hult moderated the discussion, with concluding remarks from Prof. Humphrey Tonkin, Vice-Chair of the Committee.
Key Points from the Discussion
The 90-minute exchange revealed critical challenges facing indigenous languages today. Many indigenous languages are spoken by small, often politically and economically marginalized populations, frequently divided by national borders. These divisions make it difficult to secure resources, align policies, and support language communities effectively.
The situation is particularly acute in regions like Africa, where linguistic and cultural diversity is high but government support for minority languages is often lacking. While some countries and institutions recognize the value of linguistic diversity, many do not, making it hard to build international consensus and mobilize sustained action, even within global bodies like UNESCO and the UN.
Participants stressed that initiatives such as UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032) play a vital role. By raising the visibility of language issues, these initiatives encourage cooperation, funding, and programming at both international and local levels. They also highlight language as a human right and expose the power imbalances that privilege dominant languages over indigenous ones.
Despite its fundamental importance to human connection and cooperation, language remains largely invisible in major frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It receives only brief mention in SDG 4 (quality education) and none in SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions). Yet language underpins every aspect of the SDGs, serving as the foundation for participation, communication, and social cohesion.
As the discussion emphasized, language is participation. Supporting indigenous languages is not simply about preserving cultural heritage but empowering communities to contribute to global dialogue and development.
Speakers called for greater sharing of best practices, a deeper examination of language policies, and a collaborative spirit among practitioners, activists, and policymakers. Events like this Roundtable, alongside initiatives like the Decade of Indigenous Languages, are critical to building the networks needed to protect and promote indigenous languages worldwide.
Daniel LeBlanc, OMI – VIVAT Team, New York
